Gyroscopic instrument



SePt- 6 1938 v w. MLLER l 2,129,586

GYROSGOPIC INSTRUMENT 42 z al i :i

46 v 'L WwW/*Miki* Sept. 6, 1938.4 f w. MLLER lGfYRoscoPIc: INSTRUMENT Filed sept. 21, 1936 5 sneetsfsheet v, i l

sept. 6, 193s.'

W. MLLER GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENT 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed sept. 21, 193e Waldemwjjfalr.

PMM-mmm Gmoscorrc ms'rmnmn'r Waldemar Mauer, near M11-ew, Germany,

assign or to Anania-Werke A. G. vormals Central Werkstatt Dessau und Carl Bambcrl- Friedenau, a German company l Application september 21.1936, sei-u1 Ne. lomas In Germany September 26, 1935 solai-m1.

This invention relates to improvements in airdriven gyroscopes which are equipped with' a pneumatic positional pick-oi! for operating a remote indicator or an automatic steering device. The invention relates further -to an improved method of operating saidgyroscopic apparatus.

One object of this invention is to greatly reduce the quantity of `air required for operating the instrument by a novel method which consists in using the same air twice for driving the gyroscope and also for operating the positional pick-oil'. f

The invention further aims to reduce the size and weight of the air pressure generating plant and consequently the source of power` for driving the same. This is an important consideration in connection with apparatus-designed for use on aircraft where a saving of weight, space and power is essential. A

The invention further aims to increase the reliability oi the gyroscopic instrument by passing a smaller quantity of air through the same, thereby reducing the quantity of dust and mois-l ture which decreases the life and dependability o! the instrument.

The invention further aims to provide Ameans for using air of comparatively high pressure without employing special power consuming reduction valves for reducing the high pressure required for driving the` gyroscope to a relatively low pressure required by the pick-oil?.

Other objects and advantages will appear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the detailed description which follows, together with the accompanying drawings, wherein embodiments of the invention are illustrated. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and not designed as a deiinition of the limits of the present invention, reference for this purpose being had to the accompanying claims.

l Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a directional gyroscope equipped with a positional pick-ofi for movements about the vertical axis;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the instrument shown in Fig. 1, a part being removed;

Figs. 3 to 'I are simplified diagrammatic views o! different modifled forms of the invention.

In Fig. 1, the invention is shown as applied to a directional 'gyroscope, but it isunderstood that the invention may also be applied to artificial horizons, turn indicator gyrosco'pes and the like. In this example, a gyro rotor I-I spins about a` horizontal axis I2 in the rotor bearing member or trame I3 which. in turn, is pivcted in horizontal pivots I4, I5 at right angles to the rotor spin axis in a vertical frame Ii. The verticalv frame is rotatable in vertical bearings Il, I8 in an airetight casing I9. The vertical frame 'is shown as provided with a compass-card 20 visible through the window 2l of the casing.

Compressed air is supplied to the instrument through the pipe-coupling 22 and passes through the conduit 23. into a hollow space 24 and` through holes 25, 28 into another hollow space or chamber 21. From the latter chamber the air passes through a tube 28 to one or several nozzles Nin the part 30 secured to said tube 28.

From the nozzle or nozzles, the air is discharged against the rotor il which is shown as being provided' with cups or blades 3i.

The relatively high pressure of the air entering at 22 is greatly reduced by the expansion at the nozzle 29 and by imparting a, part of its energy to the rotor.

The used air leaves the casing through openor pipes 34, 35 through openings 33, 39. At a.

close distance from the openingalthere is provided 'a disk 4l! preferably of circular shape and rigidly mounted 'eccentrically on an extension or shaft 4l of the vertical frame iso that it rotates with the frame. The disk, however, may have any other suitable forrn. The conduits or pipes 34, 35. are shown as being mounted on a supporting member 42 which is rotatable in an annular recess 43 formed by an annular ring 44 on the casing I9. The supporting member may be rotated with respect to the casing I9 by means of a worm 45 meshing with a worm wheel 46 integral with or secured to the supporting member 42. The pipes or conduits 34, 35 are shown as being connected with ilxiblepipes 45, 50, connected at 41, 4B to the conduits and extending through openings in the supporting member 42. The hose or pipes 49, connect the interior space of the said conduits or pipes 34, 35 with the chambers 5I, 52 of -a diaphragm casing 53.

ings 32, 33 and enters two conduits or pipes 34,

will oppositely open and close the openings 38, 39, thereby varying the pressure in the interior of the said pipes or conduits and operating the'diaphragm 54 and pointer 55. The air leaving the openings 38, 39 will leave the interior of the supporting member 42 having the form of a casing through the holes 56 in the top 51 of the same and escape into the atmosphere.

In the following diagrams, Figs. 3 to '7, the mechanical structure olf the instrument is indicated by simple lines only for the sake of illustrating the air passages more clearly. 'I'he structural details of the instruments in Figs. 3 to 'l will be clear to anyone skilled in the art.

Fig. 3 shows a modified form of the invention which is similar to the form in Fig. 1. In this modification, the outlets 36, 31 for the discharg- -able pump 1I.

ing air are restricted'and constant, While the inlets 38, 39 are variable by the controlling disk 49. The conduits 49, 58 connect the pick-off with the differential pressure responsive device. An additional shielding disk 60 may be provided to prei vent turbulent air from setting up a false pressure differential in the pipes or conduits 34, 35.

Fig. 4 shows a modiiied form of the invention in which air is continuously withdrawn from the casing through conduit l0 by means of a suit- Air enters the instrument through the openings 12,. passes through the variable openings 38, 39 controlled by the relative position of the pipes 34, 35 and the disk 40,and reaches the chamber 13 through the non-variable constrictions 36, 31. Through the openings 14, 15 the air enters the pipe 28 bearing the nozzle It appears that, due to the different cross sectional area of the nozzle 29 and the pick-oli' passages 34, 35,\the greater pressure drop will again be at the driving nozzle 29, similar to' the compressed air operated devices shown in Figs. Ito 3, where the air of high pressure expands at the driving nozzle and passes through the pick-oil' at relatively low pressure.

Fig. 5 shows a modied form of the apparatus shown in Fig. 4 with non-variable inlet 36, 31 and variable outlets 38,39, and disc 48, similar to the form shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 shows another modified form of the invention. The pick-off used in this instrument is shown and described in the patent to Wunsch No. 1,729,850, dated Oct. l, 1929. In this form compressed air enters at 23,l passes through the pipe 28 and drives the rotor when leaving the nozzle at 29. The used air leaves the casing through the nozzles 80, 8| of the pick-01T. The jets emerging from the nozzles 80, 8l will partially enter the opposite pair of nozzles` 82, B3 depending upon the'relative position of the disk 40 and the nozzles and set up a differential pressure in the conduits 49, 5U. The air will finally leave the pick-oil` casing through the opening 84 into the atmosphere.

Fig. 'l shows the instrument of Fig. 6 in somewhat madied form for vacuum operation. Air at atmospheric pressure enters the pick-ofi casing through conduits' 80', 8| Adifferential pressure will be set up in conduits 49, 50 having nozzles 82, 83 opposite to the nozzles 80, 8| controlled by the disk 40. The air further passes through the opening 85 and the pipe 28 to the driving nozzle and is withdrawn from the gyro casing at 10.

The present embodiments of this invention are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference beinghad to the appended claims, rather than to. the foregoing description to indicate the scope ofthe invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a gyroscope having a casing, a rotor therein; air jet means for driving said rotor; 'a rotor bearing member; means for supporting said member in said casing for movement about an axis at an angle to the rotor spin axis; and diierential air ow means actuated by relative turning of said rotor bearing member and casing about said supporting axis, said air jet means and diierential air iiow means being arrangedto be operated in succession by the same air.

2. In combination with a gyroscope having a casing, a rotor therein; air jet means for driving said rotor; a rotor bearing member; means for supporting said member in said casing formovement about an axis at an4 angle to the rotor spin axis; differential air flow means actuated by relative turning of said rotor bearing member and casing about said supporting axis, and said differential air flow means discharging into the atmosphere and actuated by the air which spins the rotor as it discharges through said air flow means'. y

3. In combination with a gyroscope having a casing; a rotor therein; air pressure means for driving said rotor; a rotor bearing member; means for supporting said member in said casing for movement about an axis at an angle to the rotor spin axis; and a positional pick-off includling discharge conduits connecting the interior oi the gyroscope casing with the atmosphere; and means controlled by relative turning of said rotor bearing member and casingfabout said supporting axis-for varying the discharge of. air through the said conduits.

4. In combination with a gyroscope having a casing; a rotor therein; air pressure means for driving said rotor; a rotor bearing member; means for supporting said member in said casing for movement about an axis at an angle to the rotor spin axis; and a positional pick-off including discharge conduits connecting the interior of the gyroscope casing with the atmosphere; a constriction in each of said conduits; and means controlled by relative turning of said rotor bearingl air through the said conduits, whereby a differential pressure is set up in the said conduits between the said constrictions and the said means for varying the discharge of air.

5. In combination with a gyroscope having a casing; means tocreate vacuum pressure in said casing; a gyro rotor in said casing; a rotor bearing member; means for supporting said member in said casing for movement about an axis at an angle to the rotor spin axis; a driving nozzle for spinning the rotor; means for admitting atmospheric air to said driving nozzle including conduits therefrom opening to the atmosphere; and means controlled by relative turning of said rotor bearing member and casing about said supporting axis for varying the opening of said conduits whereby a differential air iiow isset up in the' `in said casing for movement about an axis at an angle to the rotor spin axis; a driving nozzle for pheric air to said nozzle, said means including two conduits, a constriction in each of the conduits and means controlled by the relative turning of said rotor bearing member' and casing about said supporting axis for differentially varying the flow of air through said conduits whereby a differential pressure is set up in the said conduits between the constrictions and the said means for varying the flow of air. p

7. In combination with va Agyroscope having a casing; a rotor therein; air pressure means for driving said rotor; a rotor bearing member; means for supporting said member in said casing for movement about an axis at an angle to 'the rotor spin axis; a pair of nozzles communicating with the interior of vsaid casing and permitting air to discharge from the same; a second pair oi nozzles positioned oppositely to the rst pair of ing the air Jets emitted from the .said'rst pair Y oi. nozzles thereby varying the pressure set up in the said second pair oi nozzles.

8. In combinationwith a gyrascope having a casing; means to create vacuum pressure in said casing; a gyro rotorin said casing; a rotor bearl said second casing; means to admit atmospheric air to said pair of nozzles; a second pair oi n'oz- Azles each positioned oppositely to a respective one voi. said rst pair of nozzles in said second casing;

and a disk controlled 'by relative turning oi said rotor bearing member and casing about said supporting axis for differentially intercepting the air Jets emitted from the said rst pair of nozzles ythereby varying the pressure set up in the said second pair oi nozzles.

WAIDEMAR Mum. 

